'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Here is Sportskeeda’s I-League team of the season. Although rules allow four foreigners in the eleven, our team only comprises of three. The selected formation is 4-4-2.
Goalkeeper: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar)
The India international played every minute of Salgaocar’s campaign and ended with the maximum number (9) of clean sheets in the league. Karanjit produced plenty of man-of-the match displays and his consistency in goal was instrumental in Salgaocar’s third-placed finish.
Right Back: Rino Anto (Bengaluru FC)
Rino Anto (No.13)Photo Credit: Bengaluru FC
The 26-year-old has revitalised his career at Bengaluru FC as he was by far the best right back this season. Rino was solid defensively throughout the campaign as he hardly made a mistake and also provided a threat going forward.
Centre Back: Arnab Mondal (East Bengal)
Photo Credit: AIFF Media
The India defender made some errors in the early stages of the campaign but improved as the season progressed. Arnab stepped up his game especially during the absence of injured Nigerian defender Uga Okpara and is one of the main reasons why East Bengal had the meanest defence.
Centre Back: John Johnson (Bengaluru FC)
John Johnson (no.6)Photo Credit: Bengaluru FC
Despite this being his first season, Johnson made an instant impact in Indian football both through his technical and leadership qualities. He formed the best central-defensive partnership with Curtis Osano and also contributed with three important goals.
Left Back: Narayan Das (Dempo)
Narayan was one of the most improved players of the 2013-14 I-League, during which he also became an India international. The 20-year-old benefitted from the reunion with Australian coach Arthur Papas as he has not only become a better defender but is also more dangerous while overlapping.
Right Midfielder: Beikhokhei Beingaichho (Bengaluru FC)
Like Rino, Beikhokhei has revived his career at Bengaluru as he was the most consistent right-sided midfielder of this campaign. The 21-year-old created plenty of goals through his crossing and set-piece deliveries and even netted a couple of goals including the winner against Sporting Clube in the last day of the season.
Central Midfielder: Siam Hanghal (Bengaluru FC)
Siam Hanghal pointing to the crowd after scoring against DempoPhoto Credit: Bengaluru FC
The 20-year-old was a livewire in the middle of the park for Bengaluru and never looked overawed despite playing his first full season in the I-League. Siam’s passing and work-rate made him a fan favourite so it was no surprise to see him win the fan’s player of the year accolade at Bengaurlu’s awards night.
Central Midifelder: John Menyongar (Bengaluru FC)
Photo Credit: Bengaluru FC
The veteran Liberian medio was Bengaluru’s deep-lying playmaker and played every minute of their campaign until the title was wrapped up in the penultimate game. Menyongar’s class and experience saw Bengaluru win the midfield battle in most of their matches and it also allowed youngsters like Hanghal to flourish. He was the unsung hero but indispensable for Bengaluru.
Left Midfielder: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
Sunil was prolific despite operating in a wide rolePhoto Credit: Bengaluru FC
The India captain finished as the joint top scorer of the league with 14 goals but all that was achieved despite playing in an unfamiliar left midfield role. Sunil showed great class and professionalism to adapt to the new position as he had to stay fitter and work harder without the ball. His match-winning ability was eventually the key difference between Bengaluru and the chasing pack.
Centre Forward: Balwant Singh (Churchill Brothers)
After hardly playing in the previous two campaigns due to injury, Balwant made a remarkable comeback this season and became an India international. The 27-year-old scored ten of Churchill Brothers’ 25 goals including the winner against Salgaocar which eventually kept the Red Machines in the I-League. He possibly would have scored more for a stronger team.
Centre Forward: Cornell Glen (Shillong Lajong)
The 2006 World Cupper lived up to his reputation by being Lajong’s talisman throughout the campaign. Glen’s 13 goals inspired the north-east club to their best-ever I-League finish and he was also one of four players to score a hattrick this season. Glen was the standout player in an otherwise young and inexperienced Lajong outfit and thus edges out Salgaocar’s Darryl Duffy in this team of the season.
